Pharmacy Sector Leaders Come Together For Forum

Pharmacy sector clinical leaders came together yesterday to discuss a shared vision for the future of pharmacy in New Zealand that aims to place patients at the centre of care, strengthen access to medicines, and empower pharmacists to practise to their full professional capability, PSLF Chair Michael Hammond said.

Facilitated by Sapere Managing Director David Moore, the forum took the next step beyond PSLF’s Common Purpose Statement released earlier this year.

Mr Hammond said Minister of Health Simeon Brown spoke to PSLF in August and acknowledged the vital work the pharmacy sector does every day to support the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders and recognised that pharmacy is essential to achieving a more responsive, efficient, and patient-focused health system.

"The Minister is interested to hear what we think can be done to better utilise the pharmacy sector, and together, we can build a more accessible, and sustainable health system for all New Zealanders.

“We are all aware of the current pressures on pharmacy in New Zealand.

“That’s why it's important that PSLF, comprising clinical leaders representing the wider pharmacy sector, came together to start to design a shared vision of what pharmacy could look like in the future in New Zealand, putting patients at the centre of everything we do.

“The status quo is unsustainable – we need to reshape what we do and have the regulatory and funding changes needed to do that.

“PSLF will be sharing our joint priorities with officials and the Minister and look forward to continuing to that engagement as we seek to unleash the sector’s potential.

“It is a significant opportunity to take the sector forward together for the benefit of patients by aligning more with our counterparts in Australia, the UK and Canada who have all introduced major reforms in the sector in recent years.

“Patients in these countries are getting more care sooner and closer to home, and making the same reforms here could be of enormous benefit to patients and our stretched health system.

“Pharmacy has a young workforce and any reforms made now will benefit patients for many decades to come,” said Mr Hammond.

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